Chapter 48 – Agreements and Innovations
After the previous day and the agreements made with the guild, Kaelen's first task was to contact each of the collaborators on the farm to align the final orders. The initial plan consisted of ordering fifty units of lanterns and filters for fast delivery, followed by another two hundred and fifty units staggered over a longer period. However, for this to happen, all practical details needed to be organized.
Right after breakfast, Kaelen maintained his usual training routine in the back of the inn. Fencing and psi control blended into the air as Akra repeated her movements, attracting the curious glances of Miri and Eradan, who watched everything closely.
Miri, overcome by curiosity, approached with light steps and blurted out directly: — Master, can I do this too? Could you teach me?
With crossed arms and a perplexed expression, Eradan shook his head, unable to contain his astonishment: — Master... this is so strange. How do you do this? You're moving things without using a drop of mana around.
Kaelen let out a nasal laugh, wiping the sweat from his forehead. — Miri, if you want to try, I can teach you. But your natural predisposition for it is quite low; it might take five to ten years just to reach what Akra does now — he explained, pointing with his chin at the little girl, who at that very moment was struggling to make two thin twigs float slightly. — If you really want to train, take this copper coin and keep trying to move it. When you manage to make it jump off the ground, let me know.
Leaving the female rabbit staring at the coin, Kaelen turned his attention to the elf, changing his tone: — And to answer your question, Eradan: it's not mana. It's the power of the mind. Mana is like air, earth, something that flows and is part of everything. The power of the mind is different; it is born straight from people's souls and interferes with the essence of things... It's just that it and mana don't mix well. They are more like water and oil. Since you have a natural affinity with flora, why don't you spend your free time trying to make a plant grow and, right after, the reverse?
Eradan blinked his large eyes, totally lost: — I've never heard of this, master... What do you mean?
— Simple. If it grows under your command, you try to reverse the flow, making it regress to the seed stage. Can you imagine?
The elf shrugged, stuttering shyly: — I... I don't know, master, if I'm capable of this...
— Don't be shy or discouraged, it's just a matter of training. Test the limits little by little; if you get any results, let me know — he encouraged with a light tap on his shoulder.
Between launched challenges and frustrated attempts, the morning passed quickly until lunchtime. After the meal, Kaelen headed straight to the Old Mill Farm, where he found the group of experts — Gorgon, Sssaris, Master Boris, and Gorim — already stationed and waiting for him.
— Good afternoon everyone. How are the constructions and the progress of the preparations here? How long until we finish the projects on the farm? — he asked, instantly gaining their attention.
Then, he dropped the news everyone was waiting for: — The guild accepted our initial design for the lantern and the filter. We need a first batch of fifty units more quickly and another two hundred and fifty in the long run. And I'm warning you now: this number could skyrocket, so be prepared to hire more people — he commented, letting out a short laugh.
Continuing the strategic alignment, he looked directly at each one: — Gorgon, how long can you make the lanterns and the metal ducts? And you, Sssaris, the filters? Master Boris, how long to structure the water wheel and the small barrels for selling oil? And you, Gorim, from your contacts, how long until you get more supplies and the necessary volume of oil for us to sell? For now we will use vegetable oil in the lanterns, but we need to stay alert: the guild might try to interfere with this in the future, so every precaution is necessary.
Gorgon, Sssaris, Master Boris, and Gorim exchanged glances, calculating the deadlines and operational costs to kick off integrated production.
Gorgon wiped his heavy hands on his leather apron, pondering the numbers: — To forge the first fifty lanterns, the injection nozzles with precision, and the metal part of the heating and pressure ducts of the mother-project, my guys and I will need exactly ten days to get everything ready and installed. The rest of the two hundred and fifty units I can deliver in monthly batches. To fund the material, I need thirty gold coins in advance.
Master Boris, the beaver, shook his head in agreement while adjusting his tools at his waist: — And my part in heavy carpentry, including the water wheel structure, the elevated troughs, the furniture, and the smaller barrels for the oil, takes exactly eight days of precise cutting and fitting on-site. For the treated wood, I need ten gold coins in advance.
Sssaris hissed softly, snapping his claws against his scales before taking the floor: — The high-density ceramic piping, the pilot batch of portable filters, and the larger filtration boxes require double firing in the kilns. I can deliver and couple everything in nine days. The advance for the molds is twenty-five gold coins.
Finally, Gorim stepped forward, crossing his arms with a firm merchant's smile: — Vegetable oil extracted from seeds we can produce well, but to supply three hundred running units, I will expand the presses. The initial stock of oil comes out in a week, and the complete shipment with seeds, tools, barrels of cured manure, and hay I will personally deliver unloaded at the farm in three days. To advance the structure, I need fifteen gold coins.
Quickly doing the math in his head, the total initial investment with the advances for the artisans and producers would add up to eighty gold coins. It was a high amount, but with the margin negotiated withumia the guild, the return would be fast.
In about ten days, the entire integrated farm system — the water wheel, the piping, and the structured planting — would be physically erected and operating at full steam.
— Before we wrap up, Gorgon — Kaelen added, turning his attention back to the blacksmith — about the initial heating system we discussed, tomorrow I will hand the detailed schematics into your hands, and I'll take the opportunity to clear up some technical questions with you.
Taking a few short steps across the grounds, looking at the facade of the old residence and then at the artisans, Kaelen brought up the practical question of the move: — Another important point: analyzing the pace of your construction work, do you think it feasible to move in here with my entourage in just three days? How many days do you estimate the main house will take to be habitable enough to receive everyone?
Gorgon crossed his robust arms, pondering the routine of hammers and sparks on the property: — The heavy structural part and the sparks from the forge will bother a bit in the first days, but the main house and the central rooms will already be clean and have their locks repaired in three days. If you bring the essentials, you can settle in there without problems while we finish the mill and the piping — replied the Minotaur.
Master Boris, the beaver, nodded, corroborating the deadline: — Exactly. The main beams and internal flooring will be safe and inspected by then. You can come whenever you want.
— Perfect. The deadlines are excellent — stated Kaelen, clapping his hands lightly to end the meeting and make the agreements official. — The advance money for each one will be transferred today. I count on the dedication and absolute secrecy of all of you. Let's get to work!
The detailed explanation presented to the specialists covered the following points:
The Generating Core (The Safe Pressure Boiler): Structure: A closed furnace of wrought iron and thick copper located on the outside or in a masonry annex. Safety Mechanism: At the top of the boiler, a vertical exhaust pipe topped by a heavy conical lid (calibrated counterweight). If the steam pressure exceeded the safe limit, the lid would rise on its own to relieve the pressure, preventing explosions.
The Descent and Protection Circuit (Ceramic-Coated Copper Pipes): Distribution: Water was captured from the high box on the ceiling by gravity, passing through copper pipes that received an insulating coating of baked clay to retain temperature and prevent thermal losses along the walls. Flow Force: Based on the thermosyphon principle — cold water descended with pressure from above, entered the boiler, heated up, and rose toward the ceiling, driven by thermal expansion itself, creating a continuous cycle without the need for mechanical pumps.
The Control and Diversion System (Conical Plug Valves): Mechanism: Instead of threads impossible to seal without modern rubber, the diversion used a bronze conical plug. A metal pin in a cone shape fitted perfectly inside a conical sleeve. By turning the lever ninety degrees, the channel closed or opened entirely, controlling the flow with precision and without leaks. Controls in bedrooms and bathrooms: A mechanical switch (plug) that alternated the flow between the floor heating circuit and a cold discharge branch, plus independent controls for cold and hot water in the bathtub.
The Thermal Floor (Ceramic Hypocaust): Infrastructure: Hollow ceramic channels (similar to interlocking refractory tiles) embedded under the stone slab floor and baked tile of the kitchen and the master bedroom. Hot water circulated through these closed ducts, warming the stone by gentle radiation without spilling moisture or vapor onto the wood of the rooms.
Kaelen gathered Gorgon and Sssaris to detail the execution: — Gentlemen, our next project is not just to fix the farm's walls, but to transform the main residence into a habitable space with thermal control and advanced sanitation. The basic principle is gravity and the heat cycle. Water will descend from our elevated box on the roof through copper pipes jacketed in ceramic to retain heat. It will feed a closed boiler in the external furnace. To ensure the boiler doesn't burst from steam pressure, I designed a lever valve with a counterweight at the top here: if the pressure rises too much, the pin relieves the steam by itself, like a sigh.
— The heated water will rise naturally and distribute itself through ceramic ducts under the stone slab floor in the kitchen and master bedroom, radiating a gentle warmth to the environment during the region's harsh winters, without rotting the wooden structure. On hot days, a simple turn of a lever diverts the flow to cold pipes.
— To control the flow in the rooms and bathroom, we won't use threads, because I know the sealing would fail. We will work with ground bronze conical plugs. A ninety-degree turn blocks or releases the water perfectly. Gorgon, you will need to forge these cylinders with millimeter precision. Sssaris, we will need your alchemical skill to seal the ceramic and copper joints with a mortar resistant to heat and continuous moisture.
The reaction of both was one of deep surprise, coupled with the impact of the investment of ninety gold coins, paid on the spot.
Thus twenty days passed. The move was carried out, albeit with a turbulent initial period of adaptation, temporary water shortages, and nights spent provisionally sleeping on the floor. In the end, however, the reward was stamped on everyone's face upon seeing everything working perfectly. The house was already moderately furnished and everything properly in its place, leaving only to schedule the official visit with the guild.
The next day, the entourage arrived at the farm. Kaelen waited at the entrance, accompanied by Gorgon, Sssaris, and Aldrin on one side, while Akra and Miri remained on the other. Thys was inside the dwelling, and Eradan tended the garden alongside Alden.
When the visitors approached along the dirt road, Kaelen noticed it wasn't just the lone evaluator from before. The successful delivery of the first units mobilized a much broader delegation.
— Good morning everyone. A very warm welcome to the farm — Kaelen greeted with a hospitable tone, quickly checking the position of the sun in the sky which marked almost ten o'clock in the morning.
His eyes landed first on the man at the front of the group, the official evaluator. — And a special good morning to you too, Master Valen. I see you didn't come alone. Who are our guests today?
Valen stepped forward, with the polished posture of someone used to mediating business between the guild and local producers: — Thank you for the welcome, owner. Indeed, I thought it prudent to bring a complete entourage to evaluate your proposal without room for doubt. This is Master Cassian, responsible for all accounts and financial records of our guild.
Cassian tilted his head slightly, with an analytical and calculating look that seemed to be already measuring the profit and yield of every square meter of land around.
— Beside him is our esteemed Lysa — Valen continued, pointing to a woman with gentle yet attentive expressions — who organized the records and spoke directly with you about the initial deadlines.
Lysa nodded with sympathy, returning the welcome. Valen opened his arms toward the most imposing figure in the group: a tall man with broad shoulders and a discreet scar cutting across his left eyebrow. — And this is our guild grandmaster, Lord Vane, who insisted on coming personally due to the unusual nature of the project you described. Finally, the two young men beside him are our junior evaluators, Kael and Doran, who are here to document every technical detail.
— It is an honor to welcome you to our property, Lorde Vane, as well as all of you — Kaelen replied, maintaining firmness in his voice and an inviting gesture toward the farm paths. — Please, make yourselves comfortable. I believe the best way to understand what we are building here is not through reports, but by seeing how it works in practice. Come with me, I have prepared the first stop.
The group was guided on a short, measured walk to the main structure, which stood out right at the entrance of the irrigated fields: the modified mill. The mechanical sound of the gears and the controlled flow of water already gave a sample that this was no ordinary mill.
Before the reinforced wood and metal structure, Kaelen turned to the group. Lorde Vane arched an eyebrow, observing the rotating axle with a mix of skepticism and curiosity, while Cassian was already murmuring something, taking notes in a small leather notebook.
— To explain exactly what was changed and how this gear optimizes the process, I prefer to let the technical managers speak for themselves — Kaelen commented, making a gesture to call the carpenter and the blacksmith. — Aldrin, come here along with the master blacksmith, please. Show them what was done in this section.
Aldrin, the carpenter with calloused hands and a resin-stained apron, approached wiping his hands on a rag, followed by the blacksmith: — Good morning to the gentlemen of the guild. As you can see, we redid all the coupling fittings of the main axle — Aldrin explained, pointing firmly at the treated wood joints. — We replaced the old standard with a dual-locking system that supports triple the force without misaligning, even operating at maximum load.
The blacksmith completed, lifting a gleaming metal piece: — And I forged the reinforced bushings with a proprietary alloy to prevent premature friction wear. Each piece was molded right here, custom-made, to ensure the mechanism does not yield even during periods of highest milling and pumping demand.
Kaelen let the explanation echo for a few seconds, observing the evaluators' expressions. When the two artisans stepped back, he took the floor: — These are Aldrin and the artificers who work with me. They are the people I fully trust for this project, and those who will build the fundamental parts that the guild will buy to expand the system in other regions. Quality is guaranteed right here at the root. But not only that: it is a hybrid system.
It serves to control water flow, capture resources, and generate enough force to crush grain more effectively. The water transport system captures the liquid and takes it to a water tank further ahead, in a high position; due to the constant flow, there is no problem of water shortage. Now, where do you gentlemen want to go see first: the inside of the mill, the house, or the plantation?
Lorde Vane listened carefully, pondering the words, while the accountant Cassian seemed to mentally sum up the efficiency gains. Lysa stepped forward: — It is an impressive union of works. It saves laborers and guarantees a constant flow. I, personally, would like to see inside to understand how this transfer of water momentum was isolated from the milling moisture. But I leave the final word to Mr. Vane and the evaluators.
The grandmaster nodded slightly: — The interior of the mill is the obvious technical priority. Let's check the core of this gear from the inside.
Kaelen opened the heavy reinforced wooden door and led them inside the mill, where the cool environment held the smell of ground grains and treated wood. — Please, come in. Feel free to examine every detail — he said, then calling the specialists. — Gorgon, Aldrin, please explain to the guild gentlemen how the inner part of crushing and mechanical isolation works. And Sessaris, step forward as well to detail the pipe network and water transport.
Gorgon approached the stone millstones coupled to the main axle: — As you can see, the crushing and grinding area is totally isolated by double sealing chambers so that the moisture from the water system does not affect the dry grains. The force flow is constant, which guarantees uniform milling without jamming or excessively heating the stone core, even under continuous load.
Sessaris approached the side where a mesh of metal tubes and special ceramic rose toward the ceiling: — And through this branch, the water captured by the initial movement is directed firmly to the upper water tank. The uneven level and continuous flow prevent any air accumulation in the curves, keeping the supply stable for the rest of the property's network, without spending manual effort or wax candles.
Lorde Vane inspected the joints, while young Kael noted everything down. — It's an impressive level of autonomy for an agricultural structure — Vane pondered. — The guild invests in posts that frequently suffer from chronic labor shortages. If this pipe network really operates without flow failures... well, we will have a lot to negotiate regarding the exclusivity of these parts.
Leaving the mill, the group walked under the clear morning light to the wide garden area. In the background, a large mound covered by tarps and straw stood out. Eradan manipulated the energy flows around, weaving thermal currents that accelerated the growth of specific sprouts without destabilizing the soil.
Kaelen introduced Aldin, the advisor and resident specialist in crops and land management. Sessaris, Gorgon, and Aldin detailed the operation: — The water we pump from the mill descends by its own weight through the pipes, guided by the terrain's slope. We developed small lead valves to contain the flow, distributing moisture continuously and eliminating the need to water everything by hand with buckets — Sessaris explained. — We forged the nozzles in treated copper alloy to avoid wear from the constant moisture of the earth and contact with water — Gorgon completed. — And with Eradan's support in controlling the temperature of the most sensitive beds, we managed to extend the harvest cycle, producing out-of-season crops with a quality standard the region's market has never seen — Aldin finished.
Vane's eyes then shifted to the back of the land, pointing with his cane to the straw-covered pile: — And that in the back? A pile of debris or some sort of unfinished work?
Smiling, Kaelen crossed his arms: — That is our manure pit, a compost of treated organic matter. We prepare it by mixing cattle and horse manure with firm layers of straw and vegetable remnants. With due rest time, this matter matures and transforms into a high-potency fertilizer to reinvigorate exhausted earth. At this stage when the pile is still working inside, it doesn't emit as much smell, but the internal process generates intense heat. If applied now, the fire of the straw itself with maturing manure would burn the roots and destroy the plantation. But as soon as the inner earth calms down and the mound cools, it will be ready for use.
The surprise on the entourage's faces was evident; even Lorde Vane stepped close to closely inspect the wisdom applied to the compost.
— Come, gentlemen. We still have to visit the main house — Kaelen announced, taking the lead.
As they walked, he explained the elevated reservoir system that fed the entire farm by gravity, without requiring bucket carrying. Upon reaching the residence's facade, he pointed to the roof and detailed: — Up there is a second reservoir, equipped with thick layers of fine sand, gravel, and charcoal to purify the water intended for our consumption.
However, water that isn't fit for drinking has a different destination: it flows straight to a wood-fired furnace we keep outside, in the back of the house. When the fire is lit, this water heats up and travels its own path... and on days of harsh cold, it circulates under the flooring, radiating a mild warmth that heats the whole house.
Lorde Vane stopped, trying to visualize the invisible network beneath the earth: — Water heating the floor?
— Exactly. But please accompany me to the bathing chamber. You'll see the use doesn't stop there.
Opening the house's oak door, Kaelen led the group to the bathing room lined with smooth stones and treated wood. In the center, a reinforced wooden bathtub rested against the wall. — Here — he pointed to two carefully forged bronze levers — you can choose. By turning this one, you summon the cold water descending from the upper tank. By turning the other, you bring the hot water coming from the furnace outside.
Kaelen turned the left lever, causing a gush of crystal-clear water to fall into the tub. Then, he closed it and opened the right one, making steaming water gush and fill the room with clean vapor.
Lysa gasped softly, awestruck, while Cassian mentally calculated the value of that to the nobility.
Gorgon, Sessaris, and Aldrin explained the technical details to the visitors: — The secret lies in the valves we forged — Gorgon explained. — We made a system of threads and internal locks. Water only passes when the lever turns and opens the seal. The furnace outside is lined with thick iron plates, keeping the heat isolated so as not to ignite the surrounding wood. — Transporting this boiling water was a challenge. Ordinary pipes would crack. We used twice-baked clay tubes, coated with a resin and stone dust paste. They withstand extreme heat and carry the water from the furnace to the floor and here, without losing heat along the way — Sessaris added. — And so that moisture wouldn't destroy the house, I sealed every floorboard with linseed oil and hot beeswax — Aldrin finished. — Dirty water flows down a drain to a system of three wells outside. Heavy dirt sinks in the first, water passes to the second, and when it reaches the stream at the end of the line, it is already clean again, without contaminating our own land.
Lorde Vane slowly approached the bathtub, feeling the steam touch his skin and testing the levers with his own hands. — You channeled not just water, but fire and comfort itself — said the grandmaster, with deep respect. — The level of ingenuity your men achieved here... this would change the structure of any fortress or garrison on the continent.
— If we apply just the idea of pipes warming the flooring in the guild's headquarters in the north... the savings on firewood in the fireplaces and the profit from selling this service to the dukes... it is immeasurable — Cassian whispered, almost trembling with excitement.
Lorde Vane took a deep breath, straightening his posture and locking his gaze directly on Kaelen: — I came prepared to evaluate a mill and a wooden gear, owner. But what you built is not just an agricultural project. It is the future. I think the time has come for us to sit at the table and talk about the terms of our alliance.
— Please, accompany me to the main room. We have much to discuss — I suggested, indicating the hallway leading back to the living area.
When they crossed the entrance arch of the room, a long oak table awaited them. Right in the center, a steaming clay platter had just been set down, piled high with potatoes cut into thin sticks, fried in hot oil until reaching a golden color and a perfectly crisp texture, sprinkled with coarse salt and herbs.
Next to the platter rested an imposing frosted glass pitcher, filled with a vibrant red liquid. It was made from the pure juice of freshly picked strawberries, but possessed a peculiar charm: the water inside bubbled incessantly, as if boiling cold, with tiny pearls of air rising to the surface and bursting into a sweet, fresh mist.
Kaelen took his place at the head of the table. Miri was already waiting for him at the side, with impeccable posture and a parchment in hand, seating herself promptly on the right, with a sharp gaze for the guests.
— Sit down, please. Make yourselves comfortable to eat and drink something before we start — Kaelen offered, stretching his hand to grab a handful of the golden fries and bringing one to his mouth. The crunchy sound echoed lightly in the room.
The entourage settled with a slowness that denounced curiosity. Young Kael was the first not to resist; he grabbed one of the golden sticks and bit into it. His eyes widened instantly. — By the gods... — the boy murmured, with his mouth half full. — It's soft inside, but breaks like toasted bread crust outside!
Lorde Vane picked up a strip of potato with more polish and tasted it. Surprise crossed the hardened man's face. He grabbed three more at once, chewing in silence, but with evident approval.
Lysa, in turn, was hypnotized by the pitcher. She poured some of the crimson liquid into a silver goblet and brought it to her lips. As soon as the liquid touched her mouth, she gasped and pulled the goblet away, surprised, before breaking into a wondrous smile. — It fizzes on the tongue! — the evaluator exclaimed, enchanted. — It's sweet, has the freshness of pure strawberry, but the water... it dances on the palate.
Accountant Cassian soon helped himself to a goblet as well, drinking cautiously and then in large gulps, fascinated by the effervescence that cleansed the grease of the french fries from his palate.
When the initial fascination settled and glances turned serious again, Kaelen crossed his hands over the table. — I'm glad you appreciated our hospitality. But, as Lorde Vane well said before, we have reached business time. You saw the structure, the autonomy, the ingenuity, and the future this represents. What is the guild's proposal?
Lorde Vane straightened in his chair, wiping the sides of his mouth on a linen napkin. However, before he could formulate the first offer, Kaelen made a slight gesture with his open hand toward Miri. — Miri will lead the main terms of this table on our side.
Miri slightly tilted her head in a courteous greeting, but her gaze carried the precision of a well-honed blade. She placed her hands over her own papers and took the floor with a clear, firm voice: — Gentlemen of the guild, the honor of receiving you is ours, but we will be direct regarding the value of what you witnessed today. The hybrid mill patent, the floor heating system, water drainage, and water purification. You are not just buying machines; you are buying the monopoly of a revolution in the continent's infrastructure.
She paused a millimeter, letting the word echo in accountant Cassian's mind. — Before we hear your offer in gold coins or trade routes, there is a non-negotiable clause on our part to sign any agreement. The master artificers who made this possible... Gorgon, Sessaris, and Aldrin... are not mere employees. A fixed and perpetual percentage of each forged part and each system installed with this project in the northern cities will go directly to their coffers. They designed the gears, forged the valves, and sealed the clay. The guild will pay them fair value for the art of their hands, apart from our main agreement.
Miri crossed her fingers over the table, breaking into a polite but implacable smile. — Having our specialists' recognition as a starting point, Lorde Vane... our ears are yours. What does the guild have to offer us?
Silence weighed in the room for a few seconds, broken only by the light hiss of red bubbles bursting in the pitcher. Accountant Cassian stopped with the goblet halfway to his lips, setting it down slowly on the wood. — A continuous part? Perpetual? — Cassian repeated, his voice loaded with mercantile skepticism. — Lady Miri, with all due respect to hospitality, that is a privilege granted to kings or lords of great fiefs, not forge or clay workers. Guilds buy craft for a fixed amount, and the matter closes. Giving them a share of every future sale would dry our own coffers.
Miri didn't budge an inch. She poured herself a bit more of the bubbling water with extreme calm, took a small sip, and looked back at him: — Lords of fiefs own the land, Master Cassian. Gorgon, Sessaris, and Aldrin own the secret that will make gold sprout from that land. If the guild buys the craft for a fixed amount, what will stop a northern duke from offering triple tomorrow so they forge the same valves in his castles? What we demand is not just payment. It is the guarantee that their secret will belong only to you.
Lorde Vane let out a low, booming laugh that echoed off the walls of the room. He picked up another french fry, chewed with relish, and looked at Kaelen, then at Miri, with a sparkle of pure respect and amusement in his eyes. — You protect your own. And you protect them well — said the grandmaster, resting his heavy elbows on the table. — The loyalty of your group is as strong and tightly bound as those locks on the mill axle. I like that. People who don't value their own sweat tend to be terrible business partners.
Vane made a hand gesture, silencing Cassian, who was already opening his mouth to retort. — Very well. We accept the artificers' condition — Vane declared, while young Kael's quill scratched rapidly on the parchment to record the concession. — They will have one-tenth of all gold collected on installations bearing this farm's brand. But, in exchange for this royal privilege, I impose our condition.
The grandmaster leaned forward: — No one outside this property will learn to make the core of these gears, nor the secret of the bronze valves or the fire-resisting baked clay. Your farm, Old Mill Farm, will be the sole heart of this craft. You will produce the fundamental parts here. My guild will supply all the raw material you need: the purest copper, iron, wagons, and security. We will buy the ready parts from you at a fixed price and transport them north, where our builders will only do the external assembly in the nobles' castles.
Vane looked at Cassian, who promptly opened the leather notebook and slid a thick parchment piece across the center of the table, stopping right in front of Miri. — To seal this exclusivity, the guild offers a chest with five thousand heavy imperial gold coins immediately — Vane continued, fixing his gaze on Kaelen. — This to cover the cost of erecting new furnaces and expanding production here on the farm. And, with every moon cycle, we will send our wagons to collect the valves and joints to order, paying the price of each piece plus the continuous tithe of your three master artificers.
The grandmaster leaned back in his chair, picked up his goblet of carbonated strawberry juice, and raised it toward the homeowners, as if proposing an early toast. — You will have control of knowledge. We will have control of routes and sales to the nobility. No other guild will have what we have, and no other blacksmith will know what Gorgon knows. What do you say to this proposal, Lady Miri? Do we have a deal, or will accountant Cassian need to spend more ink?
Kaelen let out a sincere laugh, breaking once and for all the mercantile tension hovering over the table. He pointed to the nearly empty platter and the ruby glass pitcher: — To celebrate this milestone, I have a gift. The secret of how to make these potatoes golden in hot oil without burning, and the art of making water fizz with strawberry juice. Depends... does that interest you?
Lorde Vane let out a genuine belly laugh, slamming his heavy hand on the table, while Lysa and Kael smiled openly at the unexpected offer. With the mood sealed by courtesy, Miri took the floor, dictating the exact terms of deadlines, wagon frequency, and route protection. The young evaluator wouldn't stop writing, and even accountant Cassian seemed satisfied signing the guild's official parchment. The agreement was struck.
Immediately, Kaelen asked for Gorgon, Sessaris, and Aldrin to be called. When the three artificers entered the room, he opened the chest of imperial gold coins freshly placed on the table. Before Lorde Vane's watchful eye, he counted the exact share belonging to the specialists and handed the gold into each one's calloused hands. — As I said, my friends, starting today you will have a lot of work.
Gorgon and the others widened their eyes at the sudden fortune, bowing in deep gratitude. Then, Kaelen slid the rest of the heavy chest into the hands of Miri, the treasure guardian, securing the farm's future. Vane observed the gesture in silence, shaking his head with profound respect for someone who kept their word before his.
Hours later, they escorted the entourage to the farm gates. They parted with firm handshakes, and the guild's wagon took the dirt road, fading under the afternoon sun.
Inside the carriage, the rocking of the wheels accompanied a silence heavy with astonishment. — That heat running beneath the stone floor... — Cassian murmured, breaking the silence, his eyes still shining with mental figures. — Master Vane, the northern dukes and lords will pay entire fortresses of gold to no longer suffer through winters. That place is a well of hand-forged miracles.
Lysa carefully unrolled a small parchment she carried on her lap. — * And to think that the same mind mastering the craft of gears gave us the secret of how to make water dance with fruit and earth's root turn into a banquet of gods.*
Lorde Vane crossed his broad arms, leaning back into the carriage's wood and looking out the small window at the distant silhouette of the hybrid mill. — That man is not just a farmer, Cassian — the grandmaster sentenced, his voice grave and certain. — He bound his men's loyalty with upfront gold and honored our craft with blood alliances. Old Mill Farm will change how this continent lives. And we, my dears... we will be the merchants of this new era.
